Trap clip

ABSTRACT

The present trap support is light weight, durable, easily adjustable, compact, holds traps securely until trap is set off, and also is adaptable to different sizes and styles of traps. It is intended for use on various sizes of smooth fiberglass rods which is also durable and light in weight. When used for muskrats in open water it makes a fast and safe setup as the traps are elevated in the water column just under the surface of the water. When an animal is caught it falls off the support and the chain which is attached to the pole slides down the pole and drowns. Normally one would set on the bank in shallow water or on the muskrat houses where undesirable catches could be made. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description therefore can be better understood. There are additional features of the invention that will be described later and that will form the subject matter of the claims. The invention is capable of other embodiments and practiced and carried out in various ways.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

The Following is a tabulation of some the prior art.

Patent # Code Issue Date Patentee U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,713 B2 14 Jun. 2005 Beauregard Kurt D.

It is bulky and has no adjustment and must be tethered to the trap and another support to prevent loss. This invention is primarily used to hold bodygrip style traps in only an upright position on the ground.

Another which is a wire form is also for bodygrip style traps. The wire is not durable and can be easily deformed beyond use, and must also be tethered to another object to prevent lost. It also is solely for use on the ground and lacks adjustability.

Other type supports are made of heavy and bulky steel which also lack adjustability.

For foothold style traps there has been numerous type stamped devises that require screws to hold them in place and lack adjustability, and often fail to let the trap to free itself once an animal is caught.

Another style that was used for quite some time was constructed with a series of nuts welded together with 2 legs that went through the coils of the trap and was bolted onto a pole. The problem here was that the trap frequently would fall off the holder and the bolt would rust tight. Also it was difficult to construct because of the multiple pieces had to be welded together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Shows the Trap clip from a top view.

FIG. 2 shows the trap clip with trap and preferred embodiment on support pole.

FIG. 3 shows the body grip trap clip from a top view.

FIG. 4 shows the body grip trap clip with trap installed showing the loops interconnecting with the trap jaws from a top view.

FIG. 5 shows the body grip trap clip with trap and preferred embodiment on a support pole in a side view.

-   1. Coils -   2 Legs -   3 Loops -   4 Pole -   5 Body grip trap jaws -   6 Trap frame -   7 Coil springs

DESCRIPTION

The present trap support (TRAP CLIP™) is very light weight, durable, and easy to use. It is composed of carbon spring wire, and is of one piece construction. Generally formed in the shape of a U and wound (1) coils located and centered at the base of the U-shape. A plurality of (2) legs forming the U shape both support and hold firmly the selected trap being used. The said legs can have (3) loops located along them to hold body grip style traps. To better understand the advantages of this product I will describe how it is made and used. First it is determined what size rod it is to be used on, then a predetermined hardened steel dowel is selected to wind the (1) coils on. Allowances must be made for heat treating or it will be too tight or loose. After the (1) coils are wound then the (2) legs are bent to form the U-shape. To use the TRAP CLIP you simply squeeze the (2) legs together at the base of the U which unwinds the biased (1) coils, and then slide the TRAP CLIP into the desired position on the (4) pole. When the TRAP CLIP is released it locks down onto the pole. To install a set foot trap such as a coilspring style trap, the trap is first set, then a first (2) leg is placed just outside of the coilspring of the trap between the lower frame portion and the upper spring lever, you then push outwardly on the first (2) leg with the trap to spread the U-shape, then place the opposite said (2) leg outside the opposite coil between the frame and spring lever, then slide the trap completely onto the (2) legs. The trap chain can be attached to the (4) pole if not already done so. The entire setup can now be place into the water at the desired location. And bait or a lure can be place on the pole above the trap. When an animal is caught the trap is released from the TRAP CLIP and slides down the pole. Other traps are installed in a similar manner and in some cases the (2) legs apply outwardly pressure on the jaws of the trap such as in the case of the BODY GRIP CLIP. Whereas the jaws of a body grip trap is placed in the (3) loops of first (2) leg of the holder and then the opposite (1) leg is squeezed together and the second jaw is place into the loops. The outwardly pressure of the (1) legs hold the trap in place until the trap is set off. 

1. A adjustable trap support, the said support being comprised; of a carbon steel wire form, generally formed in a U-shape with multiple biased coils located at base of said U-shape; said holder having a plurality of legs coming from said coils, said legs being adaptable to firmly hold and support a variety of foothold traps; said support being easily adjustable by applying pressure to said legs to unwind biased coils to unlock holder from pole to slidably adjust on said pole to release said legs and have said coils lock support in place.
 2. The adjustable support in claim 1; being formed in the shape of a U and having a plurality of generally parallel legs.
 3. The adjustable support in claim 1; having biased coils which allow the support to be easily adjusted.
 4. The adjustable support in claim 1; having a plurality of legs that effectively, and firmly hold coilspring traps by applying pressure to the coils of said trap, and said legs support said trap with legs installed between the frame and spring levers of said trap.
 5. The adjustable support in claim 1; said legs effectively releasing said trap from holder when animal is caught.
 6. An adjustable trap support, the said trap support being comprised; a carbon steel wire form, generally formed in the of a U-shape with multiple biased coils located at the base od said U-shape; said holder having a plurality of legs coming from said coils, said legs having a plurality of loops; said loops being adapted to hold a variety of body grip style traps; said support being easily adjustable by applying pressure to said legs to unwind said biased coils to unlock support to slidably adjust on said pole. To release said legs and have said coils lock support in place.
 7. The adjustable support in claim 6; said support having a plurality of loops on said legs that firmly hold jaws of said body grip trap by applying outwardly on said jaws. 